Criminals will be caught on camera during domestic conflicts and violent affrays thanks to body-worn cameras being launched by Wokingham police today.

Officers in the borough will use the body-cams while policing a variety of situations to capture evidence to help with prosecutions and to discourage anti-social behaviour.

Inspector Lindsay James, of Wokingham police, said he had high hopes for the value and versatility of the body-cams.

“In other areas, it has already been shown that when the cameras have been deployed, the behaviour of the offender reduces.

“They can be used by our neighbourhood officers for long-term issues, and also with the response teams.

“They can also be used in cases of theft and anti-social behaviour in the street. The cameras will assist in investigations if officers can get to a scene and film criminality as it takes place, for example, at the scene of a theft.

“It’s true that a picture paints a thousand words and if we have footage of spray painting or fighting in the street it will be much easier to bring criminals to justice.”

The body-cams have been funded by a Home Office grant to Thames Valley Police.

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